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OPENLANE, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results

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Marketplace commercial vehicles sold growth of 39% YoYMarketplace dealer vehicles sold growth of 13% YoY, driven by 31% growth in US dealer vehicles soldGross Merchandise Value (GMV) of approximately $10.5 billion, representing 41% YoY growthRevenue of $555 million, representing 15% YoY growth, driven by 21% growth in auction and related feesNet income of $44 million, representing 33% YoY growthAdjusted EBITDA of $103 million, representing 19% YoY growthCash flow from operating activities of $53 million

CARMEL, Ind., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE: OPLN), today reported its second quarter financial results for the period ended June 30, 2026.

“OPENLANE’s strong performance in the second quarter clearly demonstrates the powerful growth engine this company has built,” said Peter Kelly, CEO of OPENLANE. “We grew consolidated revenue by 15%, delivered $103 million in Adjusted EBITDA, and increased marketplace GMV by 41% to $10.5 billion. Our commercial business is benefitting from the early stages of the off-lease inflection, and we grew US dealer volumes by over 30%, significantly outperforming the industry. I am pleased to raise OPENLANE’s 2026 consolidated Adjusted EBITDA guidance and confident in our ability to continue accelerating this positive momentum.”

“OPENLANE remains well positioned in the market, and we are executing a strategy that is delivering results across the company,” said Brad Herring, EVP and CFO of OPENLANE. “AFC continued to fuel the marketplace and contributed $46 million in Adjusted EBITDA. Our technology teams are releasing innovative features and new revenue-generating products and services. And as our 2025 go-to-market investments ramp towards full capacity, we are leaning into additional investments in 2026 based on that success.”

2026 Guidance

The company is updating its annual guidance to the following:

Previous Guidance

(May 5, 2026)

Revised Guidance

(August 4, 2026)

Net income (in millions)

$147 – $164

$163 – $176

Adjusted EBITDA (in millions)

$365 – $385

$385 – $400

Net income per share – diluted *

$1.09 – $1.23

$1.23 – $1.33

Operating Adjusted EPS

$1.28 – $1.42

$1.40 – $1.50

* The company uses the two-class method of calculating net income per diluted share. Under the two-class method, net income is adjusted for dividends and undistributed earnings (losses) to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock (based on the weighted average number of participating securities outstanding during the period). The weighted average diluted shares used in the net income per diluted share calculation reflect the additional common shares resulting from the conversion of the remaining preferred shares into shares of common stock, weighted from the dates of conversion. Previous guidance assumed conversion in June 2026; revised guidance reflects the actual conversion in May 2026.

Earnings guidance does not contemplate future items such as business development activities, strategic developments (such as restructurings, spin-offs or dispositions of assets or investments), contingent purchase price adjustments, significant expenses related to litigation, tax adjustments, adverse changes in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, changes in applicable laws and regulations (including significant accounting, tax and trade matters) and intangible impairments. The timing and amounts of these items are highly variable, difficult to predict, and of a potential size that could have a substantial impact on the company’s reported results for any given period. See reconciliations of the company’s guidance included below.

Earnings Conference Call Information
OPENLANE will be hosting an earnings conference call and webcast on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The conference call may be accessed by calling 1-833-634-2155 and asking to join the OPENLANE call. A live webcast will be available at the investor relations section of corporate.openlane.com. Supplemental financial information for OPENLANE’s second quarter 2026 results is available at the investor relations section of corporate.openlane.com.

The archive of the webcast will be available following the call at the investor relations section of corporate.openlane.com for a limited time.

About OPENLANE
OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE: OPLN) makes wholesale easy by connecting the leading automotive manufacturers, dealers, rental companies, fleet operators, captive finance and lending institutions as buyers and sellers to create the most advanced digital marketplace for used vehicles. Our innovative products and services deliver a fast, fair and transparent experience that helps customers make smarter decisions and achieve better outcomes. Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, OPENLANE has employees across the United States, Canada, Europe, Uruguay and the Philippines. For more information and the latest OPENLANE news, visit corporate.openlane.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release include, and the company may make related oral, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and which are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties. In particular, statements made that are not historical facts (including but not limited to statements regarding our growth opportunities and strategies, industry outlook, competitive position, business and investment plans and initiatives, the impact of macroeconomic conditions, tariffs and global trade policy, and 2026 financial guidance) may be forward-looking statements. Words such as “should,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “contemplate,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “assume,” “can,” “could,” “continue,” “of the opinion,” “confident,” “is set,” “is on track,” “outlook,” “target,” “position,” “predict,” “initiative,” “goal,” “opportunity” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current assumptions, expectations and/or beliefs, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and changes that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the company’s annual and quarterly periodic reports, and in the company’s other filings and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

OPENLANE, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income 
(In millions, except per share data) (Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

Six Months Ended

June 30,

2026

2025

2026

2025

Operating revenues

Auction and related fees

$    259.0

$     213.9

$    500.8

$     412.8

SaaS and other revenue

73.4

63.1

140.9

129.7

Purchased vehicle sales

114.9

98.5

227.1

184.2

Finance revenue

107.3

106.2

213.7

215.1

Total operating revenues

554.6

481.7

1,082.5

941.8

Operating expenses

Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

306.4

254.4

578.1

496.0

Finance interest expense

25.7

26.9

50.5

54.5

Provision for credit losses

8.9

8.7

19.2

18.0

Selling, general and administrative

123.8

114.3

248.2

221.5

Depreciation and amortization

22.3

23.0

45.2

45.7

Loss on sale of property

—

7.0

—

7.0

Total operating expenses

487.1

434.3

941.2

842.7

Operating profit

67.5

47.4

141.3

99.1

Interest expense

10.0

3.1

20.1

7.1

Other income, net

(3.6)

(7.4)

(5.2)

(12.4)

Income before income taxes

61.1

51.7

126.4

104.4

Income taxes

16.8

18.3

33.2

34.1

Net income

$      44.3

$      33.4

$      93.2

$      70.3

Amounts attributable to common stockholders

Net income

$      44.3

$      33.4

$      93.2

$      70.3

Series A Preferred Stock dividends

(3.3)

(11.1)

(8.6)

(22.2)

Net income attributable to participating securities

(3.4)

(5.6)

(9.3)

(12.0)

Net income attributable to common stockholders

$      37.6

$      16.7

$      75.3

$      36.1

Net income per share

Basic

$      0.33

$      0.16

$      0.68

$      0.34

Diluted

$      0.32

$      0.15

$      0.67

$      0.33

 

OPENLANE, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions) (Unaudited)

 

June 30,

2026

December 31,

2025

Cash and cash equivalents

$             189.7

$             141.5

Restricted cash

28.1

43.9

Trade receivables, net of allowances

391.2

314.1

Finance receivables, net of allowances

2,621.1

2,425.4

Other current assets

98.4

86.7

Total current assets

3,328.5

3,011.6

Goodwill

1,236.1

1,243.5

Customer relationships, net of accumulated amortization

94.2

102.7

Operating lease right-of-use assets

55.9

57.9

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

98.0

104.2

Intangible and other assets

193.7

204.4

Total assets

$          5,006.4

$           4,724.3

Current liabilities, excluding obligations collateralized by

     finance receivables and current maturities of debt

$             957.7

$             840.1

Obligations collateralized by finance receivables

1,887.0

1,758.3

Current maturities of debt

5.5

5.5

Total current liabilities

2,850.2

2,603.9

Long-term debt

529.2

530.1

Operating lease liabilities

50.8

53.0

Other non-current liabilities

5.0

6.8

Temporary equity

—

289.8

Stockholders’ equity

1,571.2

1,240.7

Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ equity

$          5,006.4

$           4,724.3

 

OPENLANE, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In millions) (Unaudited)

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 

2026

2025

Operating activities

Net income

$      93.2

$      70.3

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:

Depreciation and amortization

45.2

45.7

Provision for credit losses

19.2

18.0

Deferred income taxes

3.5

2.8

Amortization of debt issuance costs

4.8

4.4

Stock-based compensation

17.9

5.8

Loss on sale of property

—

7.0

Other non-cash, net

0.7

0.2

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Trade receivables and other assets

(86.9)

(55.1)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

114.8

95.1

Net cash provided by operating activities

212.4

194.2

Investing activities

Net increase in finance receivables held for investment

(216.7)

(45.0)

Purchases of property, equipment and computer software

(26.9)

(26.1)

Investments in securities

(1.6)

(0.7)

Proceeds from sale of investments

1.9

—

Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment

—

42.4

Net cash used by investing activities

(243.3)

(29.4)

Financing activities

Net increase in book overdrafts

3.4

0.5

Net repayments of lines of credit

—

(23.2)

Net increase in obligations collateralized by finance receivables

134.8

49.4

Payments for debt issuance costs/amendments

—

(0.4)

Payments on long-term debt

(2.8)

(210.0)

Issuance of common stock under stock plans

9.9

2.9

Tax withholding payments for vested RSUs

(9.4)

(6.5)

Repurchase and retirement of common stock, including excise taxes

(48.2)

(9.4)

Repurchase and retirement of Series A Preferred Stock, including excise taxes

(5.6)

—

Dividends paid on Series A Preferred Stock

(5.3)

(22.2)

Net cash provided by (used by) financing activities

76.8

(218.9)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(13.5)

19.2

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

32.4

(34.9)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

185.4

183.7

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$    217.8

$     148.8

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

Cash paid for interest

$      66.6

$      58.1

Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds – continuing operations

$      39.2

$      27.3

Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds – discontinued operations

$      (0.5)

$       (1.5)

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activity

Accrual for repurchase of common stock

$        0.1

$         —

OPENLANE, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, Adjusted Free Cash Flow, Operating adjusted income and Operating adjusted income per diluted share (or “Operating Adjusted EPS”) as presented herein are supplemental measures of our performance and liquidity that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that these measures provide investors additional meaningful methods to evaluate certain aspects of OPENLANE’s results period over period and for the other reasons set forth below.

EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), plus interest expense net of interest income, income tax provision (benefit), depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted for the items of income and expense and expected incremental revenue and cost savings as described in our senior secured credit agreement covenant calculations. Management believes that the inclusion of supplementary adjustments to EBITDA applied in presenting Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about one of the principal measures of performance used by our creditors. In addition, management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our performance.

Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less purchases of property, equipment and computer software. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is Free Cash Flow adjusted for the cash portion of EBITDA addbacks to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, the net change in finance receivables held for investment and the net change in obligations collateralized by finance receivables. Management uses Adjusted Free Cash Flow to measure the funds generated in a given period that are available for capital allocation.

Operating adjusted income is defined as net income (loss) adjusted for acquired amortization expense, gains/losses on sale of property or businesses, impairments to goodwill or other intangible assets and certain other non-recurring items. Amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets is not representative of ongoing capital expenditures but has a continuing effect on our reported results. Management believes Operating adjusted income provides comparability to other companies that may not have incurred these types of non-cash expenses or that report a similar measure. Operating Adjusted EPS represents Operating adjusted income divided by weighted average diluted shares, with preferred shares treated as converted for the entire period.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, Adjusted Free Cash Flow, Operating adjusted income and Operating Adjusted EPS have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the results as reported under GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The following tables reconcile net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented:

Three Months Ended

June 30,

Six Months Ended

June 30,

(In millions), (Unaudited)

2026

2025

2026

2025

Net income

$     44.3

$     33.4

$     93.2

$     70.3

Add back:

Income taxes

16.8

18.3

33.2

34.1

Finance interest expense

25.7

26.9

50.5

54.5

Interest expense, net of interest income

9.0

1.3

18.7

4.7

Depreciation and amortization

22.3

23.0

45.2

45.7

EBITDA

118.1

102.9

240.8

209.3

Non-cash stock-based compensation

8.9

4.4

18.6

6.4

Securitization interest

(23.1)

(24.4)

(45.1)

(49.5)

Loss on sale of property

—

7.0

—

7.0

Severance

1.1

2.4

2.8

4.4

Foreign currency gains

(1.2)

(5.6)

(1.2)

(8.9)

ERP implementation costs

0.6

—

1.0

—

Impact of Canadian DST related to prior years

—

—

(15.9)

—

Realized gain on investment securities

(1.3)

—

(1.3)

—

Other

0.1

—

0.2

0.8

Total addbacks (deductions)

(14.9)

(16.2)

(40.9)

(39.8)

Adjusted EBITDA

$   103.2

$     86.7

$   199.9

$   169.5

Three Months Ended June 30, 2026

(In millions), (Unaudited)

Marketplace

Finance

Consolidated

Net income

$         15.1

$         29.2

$         44.3

Add back:

Income taxes

7.4

9.4

16.8

Finance interest expense

—

25.7

25.7

Interest expense, net of interest income

9.0

—

9.0

Depreciation and amortization

19.1

3.2

22.3

EBITDA

50.6

67.5

118.1

Non-cash stock-based compensation

6.9

2.0

8.9

Securitization interest

—

(23.1)

(23.1)

Severance

1.1

—

1.1

Foreign currency gains

(1.2)

—

(1.2)

ERP implementation costs

0.5

0.1

0.6

Realized gain on investment securities

(1.3)

—

(1.3)

Other

0.1

—

0.1

Total addbacks (deductions)

6.1

(21.0)

(14.9)

Adjusted EBITDA

$         56.7

$         46.5

$        103.2

The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the periods presented:

Three Months Ended

June 30,

(In millions), (Unaudited)

2026

2025

Net cash provided by operating activities

$     52.8

$     71.6

Purchases of property, equipment and computer software

(13.8)

(14.2)

Free Cash Flow

39.0

57.4

Severance

1.2

2.1

Other

1.5

0.6

Net increase in finance receivables held for investment

(186.2)

(25.2)

Net increase in obligations collateralized by finance receivables

197.9

51.6

Adjusted Free Cash Flow

$     53.4

$     86.5

The following table reconciles net income to Operating adjusted income and Operating Adjusted EPS for the periods presented:

Three Months Ended

June 30,

Six Months Ended

June 30,

(In millions, except per share amounts), (Unaudited)

2026

2025

2026

2025

Net income

$     44.3

$     33.4

$     93.2

$     70.3

Acquired amortization expense

8.0

8.3

16.3

16.6

Impact of Canadian DST related to prior years

—

—

(15.9)

—

Loss on sale of property

—

7.0

—

7.0

ERP implementation costs

0.6

—

1.0

—

Realized gain on investment securities

(1.3)

—

(1.3)

—

Income taxes (1)

(1.8)

(1.4)

0.3

(2.6)

Operating adjusted income

$     49.8

$     47.3

$     93.6

$     91.3

Operating Adjusted EPS (2)

$     0.40

$     0.33

$     0.74

$     0.63

Weighted average diluted shares – including assumed conversion
of preferred shares on January 1 of each respective period

125.8

144.4

125.8

144.3

(1)

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, each tax deductible item was booked to the applicable statutory rate.

(2)

The Series A Preferred Stock dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities have not been included in the determination of Operating adjusted income for purposes of calculating Operating Adjusted EPS.

The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the 2026 guidance presented:

2026 Guidance –

Previous

2026 Guidance –

Revised

(In millions), (Unaudited)

Low

High

Low

High

Net income

$      147

$      164

$      163

$      176

Add back:

Income taxes

54

58

59

63

Finance interest expense

102

101

106

106

Interest expense, net of interest income

40

40

40

38

Depreciation and amortization

92

92

90

90

EBITDA

435

455

458

473

Total addbacks (deductions), net

(70)

(70)

(73)

(73)

Adjusted EBITDA

$      365

$      385

$      385

$      400

The following table reconciles net income to Operating adjusted income and Operating Adjusted EPS for the 2026 guidance presented:

2026 Guidance –

Previous

2026 Guidance –

Revised

(In millions, except per share amounts), (Unaudited)

Low

High

Low

High

Net income

$      147

$      164

$      163

$     176

Total adjustments, net

13

14

13

13

Operating adjusted income

$      160

$      178

$      176

$     189

Operating Adjusted EPS

$     1.28

$     1.42

$     1.40

$     1.50

Weighted average diluted shares – including assumed conversion
of preferred shares on January 1, 2026

125

125

126

126

 

Analyst Inquiries:

Media Inquiries:

Bill Wright

Laurie Dippold 

(317) 249-4559

(317) 468-3900

investor_relations@openlane.com 

laurie.dippold@openlane.com 

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SOURCE OPENLANE, Inc.

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Graco® SnugRide® Turn & Slide™ Brings Unique Turn-and-Slide Innovation to Families

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Graco’s first-ever rotating infant car seat goes beyond turning alone, sliding baby closer to help make getting in and out of the car easier.

Turn & Slide goes beyond rotation alone, turning 180° toward the caregiver and gliding smoothly on and off the base to bring baby closer.Designed for growing families, the car seat helps reduce reaching, lifting and maneuvering while preserving neighboring seat-space.Available now for $349.99 at GracoBaby.com, Amazon and Babylist.

ATLANTA, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Graco® today announced the availability of its SnugRide® Turn & Slide Rotating Infant Car Seat, designed to make one of the most repeated parts of caring for a baby easier: getting baby in and out of the car. As Graco’s first-ever rotating infant car seat, Turn & Slide combines a 180° rotation with a unique sliding motion that brings baby closer to the caregiver.

From the first ride home to daycare drop-offs, doctor appointments and family outings, parents are constantly on the move. SnugRide Turn & Slide was designed to make those moments easier, helping reduce the physical effort of the in and out transitions so caregivers can spend more time focused on their baby and the moments that matter.

“At Graco, we’re always looking for ways to make parenting easier,” said Kerry Strzelecki, Vice President of Brand Management at Graco. “Turn & Slide was designed with that goal in mind, going beyond rotation to bring baby closer to the caregiver. We’re proud to offer families an innovation that takes some of the effort out of getting on the go, giving parents more time to focus on the moments that matter.”

Going Beyond Rotation
Beyond its unique turn-and-slide design, SnugRide Turn & Slide is engineered to rotate without blocking the neighboring seat, helping preserve second-row space and support three-across seating in many vehicles. This gives growing families more flexibility, especially when traveling with multiple children.

Additional features include:

Lightweight Portability: The lightweight carrier is designed to make moving baby between the car, stroller and home easier.Simple, Secure Installation: SnugLock® Technology enables installation in less than one minute using the vehicle seat belt or LATCH, while the InRight™ LATCH system provides a one-second, click-secure attachment.Adjusts as Baby Grows: The No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust™ Harness System allows the headrest and harness to adjust together as baby grows, while the 4-position adjustable base with bubble level helps support proper installation.

Backed by Graco’s Commitment to Safety
For more than 65 years, Graco has been committed to providing families with products built around safety and quality. SnugRide Turn & Slide is Graco® ProtectPlus Engineered™, undergoing rigorous frontal, side, rear and rollover crash testing. The seat also features an integrated Anti-Rebound Bar and PureProtect™ fabrics that are fire-resistant without added chemicals.

Following the voluntary recall of select SnugRide Turn & Slide infant car seats earlier this year, Graco implemented engineering updates and completed additional testing and validation to address the issue before bringing the product to market.

Available Today
The SnugRide Turn & Slide Rotating Infant Car Seat (MSRP $349.99) is available at GracoBaby.com, Amazon and Babylist in Noir, Mulberry and Sandstone colorways.

Turn & Slide will also be available as part of a travel system with the Modes™ Nest Stroller beginning in December 2026 for an MSRP of $674.99.

For more information about Graco and the SnugRide Turn & Slide Rotating Infant Car Seat, visit www.gracobaby.com and follow along on social at: @graco on Instagram and Facebook, and @gracochildrensproducts on TikTok.

About Graco
Graco is one of the most recognized children’s products brands that provides innovative and reliable solutions to help parents make smart choices while taking care of their little ones. For more than 65 years, Graco has built high-quality products that parents can trust, including car seats, strollers, travel systems, swings, highchairs, playards and nursery care essentials. Graco is part of Newell Brands Inc., a leading global consumer products company, with its products available globally through a variety of retail partners.

About Newell Brands
Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie®, Graco®, Coleman®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Yankee Candle®, Paper Mate®, FoodSaver®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Elmer’s®, Oster®, NUK®, Spontex® and Campingaz®. Newell Brands is focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments.

This press release and additional information about Newell Brands are available on the company’s website, www.newellbrands.com.

*Based on 2024 Baby Gear Brand Health Tracker Data

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/graco-snugride-turn–slide-brings-unique-turn-and-slide-innovation-to-families-302932865.html

SOURCE Newell Brands

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AI Search Is Killing the Click. Breaker Says B2B Growth Must Move Beyond Traffic

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As AI summaries reduce referral search clicks and automated traffic clouds website metrics, Breaker says B2B marketers need to turn increasingly valuable visits into identifiable, ongoing audience relationships.

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Artificial intelligence is weakening a metric B2B marketers have long treated as evidence that content is working: the website visit. Pew Research Center found users clicked traditional search results in 8% of visits containing a Google AI summary, compared with 15% of visits without one. Links inside the AI summaries received clicks in only 1% of visits.

A company can now appear in an AI-generated answer without receiving a visit. Even when someone does click through, the visit alone may reveal little about the visitor’s identity or potential fit as a buyer. “Clicks and traffic that aren’t identifiable to a human are a poor signal,” said Ben Billups, founder and CEO of Breaker.

AI Visibility Does Not Guarantee Demand

Large language models (LLM) are already changing how people discover online content. The Interactive Advertising Bureau found that 95% of publishers it surveyed reported moderate or significant effects from LLM-driven discovery. For marketers, that changes what visibility can tell them. Billups said businesses still need to make themselves discoverable to AI systems, but appearing in an answer does not mean the system is recommending them.

An AI response may mention several companies, compare pricing or social proof, or surface an advantage held by a competitor. That makes the value of an AI-driven referral difficult to interpret. “We don’t have visibility into the chat that led to the traffic, so there’s no way to know definitively what context AI is putting your company into,” Billups said.

AI discovery can also be less predictable than traditional search. “As AI becomes more dominant, it’s more important to be discoverable and to have positive sentiment online, but reach is less deterministic,” Billups said. “What AI thinks is relevant to one user, it may not think is relevant for another.”

Anonymous Traffic Is a Weaker Signal

Traffic volume presents a separate measurement problem because a growing share of web activity is automated. Statista reported that bots generated 53% of global web traffic in 2025. For marketers, that makes a visit less useful as a signal unless they can determine who or what produced it.

For B2B companies, actions that help establish visitor identity can provide more information about actual buyer interest. Newsletter subscriptions, resource downloads, forms, and demo requests can help marketers distinguish potential buyers from bots and determine whether a contact matches the company’s ideal customer profile (ICP).

Billups uses a hypothetical example to illustrate the difference. “Let’s say that 50% of your traffic is bots, 50% is human, and 20% of the human traffic is actually in your ICP,” he said. “Versus with a newsletter, you can know in advance that 100% of the traffic is in your ICP and human.”

Post-Search Growth Starts With What Happens Next

Clicks still matter, but Billups says marketers should pay closer attention to what visitors encounter after arriving. What matters next is if that visit gives the business a way to identify a potential buyer and continue the conversation. “We still need clicks, but particularly in B2B, it’s the messaging that tells someone if they’re a good fit for your product,” Billups said.

Once someone subscribes to a newsletter, however, the interaction is longer than the visit. Once someone subscribes, the company can identify them, continue communicating over time, and nurture if they fit its ICP. That continuity is key in B2B, where a purchase decision may be months away. “Relationships are built on time, trust, and communication,” Billups said. “Simply knowing about a business or product is not enough.”

About Breaker    
Breaker is the only email platform that sends your newsletter and grows your list with high-value B2B prospects—on autopilot. Powered by advanced targeting, AI enrichment, and proprietary deliverability systems, Breaker ensures every email reaches the inbox while generating verified, sales-ready subscribers for as little as $1.50 each. Seamless CRM integrations, white-glove migration, and built-in analytics make it easy for marketers to scale outreach and convert engagement into pipeline. Built by marketers, for marketers. For more information, visit joinbreaker.ai.

References 

Gaudiaut, T. (2026, May 26). Bad bots are taking over the web. Statista. statista.com/chart/35950/share-of-global-web-traffic-generated-by-humans-and-bots-since-2018/Interactive Advertising Bureau. (2026, July 16). The AI discovery shift: How publishers are navigating the new search and discovery landscape. iab.com/insights/ai-insights-engine-july-2026/Chapekis, A., & Lieb, A. (2025, July 22). Google users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears in the results. Pew Research Center. pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/22/google-users-are-less-likely-to-click-on-links-when-an-ai-summary-appears-in-the-results/

Media Inquiries:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™ 
727-777-4629

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Byzfunder to Participate Alongside Leading Fintech Executives and Investors at Exclusive 2026 KBW Fintech Ecosystem Conference

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The invitation-only gathering brings together influential voices shaping the future of financial services.

NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Byzfunder, a leading technology-driven provider of small business financing, today announced its participation in the 2026 KBW Fintech Ecosystem Conference, taking place November 10–12 at Convene 30 Hudson Yards in New York City.

The conference will feature executives from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal and Capital One, alongside participants from across the financial technology and investment communities.

Byzfunder’s participation underscores the company’s expanding presence within the financial technology industry and its continued investment in artificial intelligence, proprietary underwriting technology, risk analytics, and scalable financing infrastructure.

Led by CEO Ilya Fridman, Byzfunder has developed an integrated technology platform designed to transform small business financing through intelligent automation, advanced credit decisioning, and data-driven risk management.

“The financial services industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation, driven by artificial intelligence, automation, and increasingly sophisticated data analytics,” said Ilya Fridman, Chief Executive Officer of Byzfunder. “The KBW Fintech Ecosystem Conference brings together an exceptional group of industry leaders and institutional investors who are helping shape that transformation. We look forward to exchanging ideas and exploring opportunities as we continue building the next generation of technology-driven small business financing.”

Byzfunder’s ongoing investment in financial technology and institutional-grade risk management reflects its long-term strategy of combining innovation with disciplined, scalable growth.

About Byzfunder

Byzfunder is a leading financial technology company providing innovative working capital solutions to small and medium-sized businesses nationwide. Combining approximately two decades of industry experience with proprietary technology, artificial intelligence, advanced risk analytics, and automated underwriting capabilities, Byzfunder has developed a scalable financing platform designed to deliver efficient access to capital.

For more information, visit byzfunder.com.

Media Contact

Xin Hamilton, CMO

press@byzfunder.com

byzfunder.com

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